.380 for Home Defense?

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azhunter122

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Well yet another caliber question, here's the deal. I ran out and bought a small safe from Wal-Mart after the $150 one I bought from the safe store broke, this safe is very small but I'll stick with it for a while. I have to keep my nightstand gun in a safe, it's just my policy and all that I can fit in the safe is my Bersa .380 and possibly my S&W 640 or Taurus 85 but I'd rather not use them for home defense. My question is do you think that my dinky 380 will get the job done for home defense? And the reason why I am asking about the .380 over the .38 specials is that I am much more accurate with it and it holds 2 more rounds in it (without one chambered) that the snub noses. Will it get the job done?
 
I would definitely not use it in place of a 38 special, but if it is what you are more comfortable with it, then it is better than praying the intruder wont find you quivering under the bed. I would suggest investing in a good shotgun.. even a single shot would be sufficient, though a pump would be better.
 
A safe that small is simply a box for the burglar more conveniently to carry the contents away.

Why the safe for your nightstand gun and not your other guns? That seems bizarre; the nightstand gun is the one gun you want to reach out and grab, not retrieve from a locked safe.
 
if you're much more accurate and comfortable with it, as you say, load it with some quality hollowpoints and call it a day.
 
I have a shotgun also, I don't think that theres a good way to secure it without throwing it into my big livingroom safe which is in the livingroom by the the way! What about keeping the shotgun loaded with birdshot, with no round chambered?
 
Why the safe for your nightstand gun and not your other guns? That seems bizarre; the nightstand gun is the one gun you want to reach out and grab, not retrieve from a locked safe.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I sleep with my sig on the nightstand. Loaded mag, no round in the chamber (i know, i know, but my dog will give me plenty of warning if someone breaks in and i'll have time to grab it and rack the slide before they can make it upstairs).
 
My .380 is basically my HD weapon. My .45 is locked in the safe and I go to bed hours after my girlfriend does so taking it out every night is not really an option.
 
I have a Bersa 380 under the bed
in the Box Spring and a Rossi .38
in the night stand.
I have Speer Gold-dots in both.
I keep the SIG in a gun Safe with 124 grain NATO rounds in it.
almost forgot ...a 410 snake chramer
with a slug.
Im ready for anybody.
 
well, i also keep my cz-82 with a loaded mag in a drawer, but i figure that if the 15 hydrashocks in my sig can't deal with whoever is invading, i'm ****ed anyway :eek:
 
azhunter,
most knowledgeable people will tell you that shot placement trumps caliber. I'd recommend the 38 over the 380, but if the 380 is the one you're comfortable with, go with it. But I want to recommend this safe below. I use it. It certainly is not a serious gun safe, but children will not be able to break into it, and it has a programmable digital code as well as a key. And it is large enough for almost any handgun.

Now, again, it's not a serious safe, but it may beat what you currently have and it can be bought at Wal-mart for about $40. If you chose to do so, you could return what you have and exchange it for this.

Hope this helps.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7801927
0001624730400_500X500.jpg
 
I doubt that a burgler will ask, "Is that only a .380?" when the shooting starts. A.380 is just a short 9mm. I believe the 9mm. Luger is 9 x 19, while a .380 is a 9mm. short (kurtz) or 9 x 17.
If you shoot it well, then go with it.
 
LOL...it didn't used to be, but now it's just fine. Before Kel-Tec, Kahr, Ruger, etc. came out with all the cute pocket pistols in .380 it wouldn't kill anything...even the common house mouse would stop running and roll on the floor in hysterical laughter if you pulled out a .380. But now?!...it is just fine for self defense. The advent of all the new pocket pistols has even made the PPK and Bersa in .380 much more powerful weapons. This is all fact...if you don't believe me, just try to buy a box of .380 ammo! :D

Now, there IS another way to look at this. If you're thinking of buying a .380 and you don't already have some ammo, then it's only good for throwing(make sure you buy an all steel model such as the Walther PPK/S that has the frame running all the way through the grip). I can "hum" a stainless Walther and any intruder is definitely going to pause and think twice about his decision when that PPK/S hits him in the forehead!
 
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Yeah, it's perhaps the best choice for an apartment or an urban home. I used to keep a Sig P230 for that purpose. It would be my choice now if I still had it. It'll do serious damage to a person yet it doesn't have the velosity to penetrate walls as easily as hotter loads. It would be a terrible day to discover a stray bullet in a neighbor or a loved one in another area.

It's the same reason that many localities restrict hunting to shotguns only rather than permit high powered rifles. It may not be everyone's favorite choice, but it will ultimately save lives due to the occasional accident.
-Bill
 
.380 will serve you well for HD. It's not the ideal caliber, but it will do. I have several .380's and I wouldn't feel "vulnerable" if I had that on my nightstand and something went bump in the night. .380 has stopped and killed many perps. That being said, I still sleep with my 1911 45acp by my bed everynight. (why take unnessesary risks?):evil:
 
About the safe, the $150 one was from J&G and I kept my Kimber in it 24/7 well it broke and now the front door won't close on it. The new one I bought (the small one) was purchased from Wal-Mart.
 
A locked safe which will not open ... boy does that bring back memories. About fourteen years ago a buddy bought an old garage across the street from my loft, which old garage contained, among other things, a big old safe, buried in debris and detritus. No key, obviously. He finally got it open after much speculation (well, it WAS Grand Avenue), and found nothing inside. Nothing at all, not even receipts or files. Felt a little like Geraldo at the Lexington Hotel.

A broken safe with a gun locked inside? Wow. That safe would not be locked for long.
 
AZhunter,

With .380 ammo, the issue is getting good body penetration as well as shock and expansion from a small, not so fast bullet. I think you'll want to look at Federal Premium Hydra-Shok. It's 90 grains with a central spire in the hollow area.

I read a test report regarding several .380 SD ammo and this had the best combination of penetration and shock of all. I've been shooting it since and find it to be pretty accurate in my Bersa.
 
I load my 380 with Buffalo Bore +P, 90gr Gold Dots, although it is not my go to HD gun.
 
There are many countries where the 380 is the largest pistol caliber available to civilians. Also in many countries it is a standard police caliber. No worries at all.
 
People seem to worry too much if the caliber of thier weapon of choice is right for defense spend more time shooting whatever caliber your weapon is and you and it will not fail you in your time of need. Stop looking for a hardware solution to a soft ware problem.

be safe
 
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